Kamiyama to helm ‘009 Re:Cyborg’

Production I.G. greenlights comic-book adaptation

TOKYO — Kenji Kamiyama, whose credits include the “Ghost in the Shell” sci-fi TV series and movie, is to helm 3D CG toonpic “009 Re:Cyborg.”

Leading Japanese toon house Production I.G. has greenlit the film, which is based on a classic superhero comic series created by Shotaro Ishinomori. It is skedded for release in the fall of 2012, with Production I.G and T-Joy distribbing.

The story is based on Ishinomori’s comic, which from 1964 to 1985 followed the adventures of cyborgs who had been captured as humans by an evil organizations and turned into fighting machines. In the original series nine cyborgs rebelled against their creators, becoming the first superhero team in Japanese comics.

After helming two series of the “Ghost in the Shell” TV series, Kamiyama made his feature debut with the 2007 sci-fi toon “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — Solid State Society.” A 3D version of the toon, with Kamiyama supervising production, was released this year.

Following his work with the “Ghost in the Shell” franchise, Kamiyama helmed the “Guardian of the Spirit” and “Eden of the East” TV series.